Game board apparatus

ABSTRACT

Game board apparatus wherein a plurality of game board discs are advanceable either to the right or to the left for the use of successive or other players. Single or partner games may be played, as desired, or a single player may play several games simultaneously, and this without moving his position or his seat. In the invention a sun gear, planetary gear arrangement is used, and the gear ratios are so chosen such that each player will play from the opposite &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;side&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; of a respective game board. The revolvement axes of the playing boards may be adjusted as to disposition to accommodate a varying number of players. Sun gear means in the form of two gears of different diameters are employed so that discrete gear ratio changes can be made in accordance with game board placement and board revolvement requirements.

United States Patent 1191 Lehwalder 1451 July 29,1975

1 1 GAME BOARD APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Heinz E. Lehwalder, 1792 Emigration Canyon, Salt Lake City, Utah 84104 [22] Filed: Mar. 18, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 452,198

Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle [57] ABSTRACT Game board apparatus wherein a plurality of game board discs are advanceable either to the right or to the left for the use of successive or other players. Single or partner games may be played, as desired, or a single player may play several games simultaneously, and this without moving his position or his seat. In the invention a sun gear, planetary gear arrangement is used, and the gear ratios are so chosen such that each player will play from the opposite side of a respective game board. The revolvement axes of the playing boards may be adjusted as to disposition to accommodate a varying number of players. Sun gear means in the form of two gears of different diameters are employed so that discrete gear ratio changes can be made in accordance with game board placement and board revolvement requirements.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures GAME BOARD APPARATUS The present invention relates to game board apparatus and, more particularly, to a new and improved game board apparatus wherein one player can play a series of games conveniently, and simultaneously, without moving his seat. Other advantages of the invention as hereinafter disclosed include the opportunity of playing partners with opposite player or one of a series of games, and also of playing opponents in plural contests simultaneously.

For versatility in playing simultaneous games or partner games, as to chess and checkers, for example, it is desirable to construct the apparatus such that no player is obliged to move his seat or position during game play. In the present invention this is accommodated by a sun gear, planetary gear arrangement, this wherein the planetary gears are keyed to fixed shafts which rotationally displays upper playing surfaces.

A base support and journaling means for the planetary gear shafts include at least two patterns of holes for accommodating such shafts and hence placement of the planetary gears relative to the fixed double bull gear used. Accordingly, placement of game tables will effect not only a chosen pre-selected position of such game tables but also a gear engagement with the bull gear system such that the appropriate revolvement of the game tables, as such are advanced or reciprocated between players, is obtained.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide new and improved game board apparatus for two or more individuals.

A further object is to provide game board apparatus that may be adjusted from three-player to four-player use, by way of example.

A further object is to provide game board apparatus wherein a series of games can be played simultaneously by a player without him having to remove his seat or position.

A further object is to provide a sun gear, planetary gear system for game boards such that the game boards may be revolved half-way up its own axis as such game boards are advanced between successive players.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan of the structure of the present invention, partially broken away, wherein three revolvable disc-shaped playing boards are employed.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 but illustrates the structure incorporating four revolving game boards, the gear means of the respective game boards engaging another portion of the bull gear structure found centrally in the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the line 4--4 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a top plan of the support plate structure used to journal the game board depending shafts for revolving the same about the central post of the structure to which such support plate is journaled.

In FIG. 1 a rectangular support member 10, for disposition on a table, is shown, and, as seen in FIG. 3, it is provided with a plurality of caster, roller, or hearing means 11 which rotatably support a rotating support plate 12. Support plate 12 is circular in configuration, see FIGS. 1 and 5, and includes triangularly spaced apertures 13 and also a set of apertures 14 arranged at apices of a square.

Each of the apertures are provided with raised bosses, spacers, or simply bearing washers that are aligned and preferably welded in place. Thus, these bearing washers or spacers are designated by the numeral 15 in FIGS. 3 and 5; these are somewhat thicker than the small spacers 16 that are shown in FIGS. land 5. The reason for this will be described hereinafter. Rotating support plate 12 is provided with a bearing 17 that is positioned about stub shaft or post 18 and maintained in place in any convenient manner as by retainer support, snap ring 19 that may be fitted into a corresponding groove of post 18. Flange 20 is provided with locking bolts 21' that lock the bearing in place. There are any number of types of journaling means, such as bearings 17, that can be used, to rotatably support the support plate 12 upon upstanding post 18.

Keyed to post 18 by key 28 is a bull gear means 20 which comprises an upper, small gear 21 and also an enlarged lower gear 22. These may comprise fixed spur gears the teeth of which mesh with pinion gears 23 associated with the disc-shaped revolvable playing boards 24. The latter are each provided with upper, checkered playing surfaces 24'. Specifically as to the latter, the same will include a respective shim 25 disposed between the gear 23 and playing board 24. The gear itself will be provided with a boss 26 and also a stub shaft 27 integral therewith. Thus, the disc-shaped playing board construction, with its gear and depending shaft, is representative of all of the playing boards shown in FIGS. 1-4. The bull gear means 20, comprising smaller upper gear 21 and lower enlarged gear 22 may be secured in place rigidly by key 28 in the usual manner.

Accordingly, the main or bull gear means 20, comprising the concentric, smaller upper and larger lower gears 21 and 22 comprise, in a sense, a sun gear construction about which the spur gears 23, as planetary gears, revolve. When the shafts 27 are disposed in apertures 13 of support plate 12, then the structure of FIG. 3 will obtain. The ratio of the number of teeth of the planetary gears 23 to the main bull gear 22 will be the ratio of 1- /2 1 1. See FIG. 1. Thus, there will be a revolvement of 1-% revolutions of each playing table 24 about its own axis as the same proceeds once about the central gear 21.

Where four tables are used in the case of FIG. 2, then depending shafts 27 of the disc-shaped playing tables will be disposed in apertures 14, and here the gear size and gear teeth of bottom bull gear 22 will be so chosen that the ratio of the respective planetary gear 23 to gear 22 will be of the ratio of 2 1. Thus, at this setting of the stub shafts of the playing tables, see FIG. 2, each planetary gear and hence each table will revolve twice about its own axis as a respective one thereof proceeds about gear 22.

In operation, one will first decide whether there are to be three players or four players and, accordingly, will dispose the stub shafts 27 either in the triangularlyoriented holes 13 or the square-oriented holes 14 in FIG. 5, this is to accommodate the configuration shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, respectively. The bearings or rollers or casters as at 11 will support the support plate 12 for revolvement about the axis of post 18.

Thus, and in accordance with the gear ratios herein before given, all players will play white initially at the same time, by way of example: then the support plate is revolved 120 so that each playing table proceeds to the next player and, in addition, revolves abouts its own respective axis 180". At this point each player plays black. If we assume that this initial movement is in a direction which is to the left, i.e., clockwise, then after the players play black, the support plate will be advanced in a counter-clockwise direction so that the original table is back to its original position and each player plays his second white move. It is noticed that in the triangular table orientation of FIG. 1, the planetary gears and their play tables do not proceed continuously in a single clockwise or counterclockwise direction; rather, the support plate 12 is simply advanced one-third ofa revolution, and then back the same angular distance for each successive play.

In connection with the four-table configuration shown in FIG. 2, the support plate 12 will be advanced continuously in a single direction, for example, a clockwise direction. In such event the players, at diagonally opposite points, will be partners. Thus, each player will play white initially; then as the support plate is advanced one-quarter turn, the next player receives the table from his right and plays black. Subsequently, the table can be further advanced so that the partner now plays white. Of course, alternately, the support plate may be simply revolvably displaced one-quarter turn each time where one person is to play two games simultaneously.

It will be apparent that there are a number of variations possible wherein the players can play either several games simultaneously with different partners or can himself have a side-opposite partner whereby two players will play on the same side of the same game.

What is presented, therefore, is a new game board construction whereby a single player, without moving his position may play one or more of the other players in simultaneous matches and, likewise, where individuals can play partners on the same side of the game board, for example, et cetera.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended Claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. Game board apparatus including, in combination, a horizontal support member having a central, fixed, upstanding post, a revolvable support plate horizontally disposed above said support member and centrally journaled about said post, said support plate having a pre-determined pattern of shaft-receiving apertures, horizontal bull gear means centrally keyingly affixed to said upstanding post above said support plate, plural playing boards having fixed depending shafts respectively disposed in said apertures and respective, horizontal, planetary gears centrally fixed to and keyed with said shafts and meshing with said bull gear means, said playing boards thereby being revolvable with respective ones of said planetary gears as said support plate carrying said planetary gear shafts is rotated about said post, and wherein said revolvable support plate has plural patterns of said shaft-receiving apertures, said bull gear means comprising plural, concentric sun gears of differing dimensions and respectively meshing with said planetary gear upon selected shaft insertion of said shafts in a selected pattern of said 2. Game board apparatus including, in combination, a horizontal support member having a central, fixed, upstanding post, a revolvable support plate horizontally disposed above said support member and centrally journaled about said post, said support plate having a predetermined pattern of shaft-receiving apertures, horizontal bull gear means centrally keyingly affixed to said upstanding post above said support plate, plural playing boards having upper, checkered playing surfaces and fixed depending shafts respectively supportingly journaled solely in said apertures and respective, horizontal, planetary gears centrally fixed to and keyed with said shafts and meshing with said bull gear means, said playing boards thereby being revolvable with respective ones of said planetary gears as said support plate carrying said planetary gear shafts is rotated about said post, and wherein said shaft receiving apertures comprise a triangular pattern and also a square pattern of apertures of a three-aperture pattern and a four-aperture pattern set, respectively, said game boards used being in number equivalent to the number of apertures in a selected one of said patterns, said bull gear means comprising plural bull gears of differing diameters, said plural playing boards having their shafts disposed in the apertures of a selected one of said patterns and being dimensioned such that their planetary gears mesh with a corresponding, selected one of said bull gears.

3. Game board apparatus including, in combination, a horizontal support member having a central, fixed, upstanding post, a revolvable support plate horizontally disposed above said support member and centrally journaled about said post, said support plate having a pre-determined pattern of shaft-receiving apertures, horizontal bull gear means centrally keyingly affixed to said upstanding post above said support plate, plural playing boards having fixed depending shafts respectively disposed in said apertures and respective, horizontal, planetary gears centrally fixed to and keyed with said shafts and meshing with said bull gear means, said playing boards thereby being revolvable with respective ones of said planetary gears as said support plate carrying said planetary gear shafts is rotated about said post, and wherein said bull gear means comprises a small upper sun gear and a larger lower sun gear, said shaft-receiving apertures being positioned such that said planetary gears will mesh with a selected one of said sun gears.

4. Game board apparatus including, in combination, a horizontal support member having a central, fixed upstanding post, a revolvable support plate horizontally disposed above said support member and centrally journaled about said post, said support plate having a predetermined pattern of shaft-receiving apertures, horizontal bull gear means centrally keying affixed to said upstanding post above said support plate, plural playing boards having upper, checkered playing surfaces and fixed depending shafts respectively supportingly journaled solely in said apertures and respective,

about said apertures and of respective differing heights, said bull gear means comprising a pair of coaxial bull gears of differing diameter, said playing table shafts being disposed in a selected set of said shaft-receiving apertures in a manner such that said planetary gears mesh with a corresponding one of said bull gears. 

1. Game board apparatus including, in combination, a horizontal support member having a central, fixed, upstanding post, a revolvable support plate horizontally disposed above said support member and centrally journaled about said post, said support plate having a pre-determined pattern of shaft-receiving apertures, horizontal bull gear means centrally keyingly affixed to said upstanding post above said support plate, plural playing boards having fixed depending shafts respectively disposed in said apertures and respective, horizontal, planetary gears centrally fixed to and keyed with said shafts and meshing with said bull gear means, said playing boards thereby being revolvable with respective ones of said planetary gears as said support plate carrying said planetary gear shafts is rotated about said post, and wherein said revolvable support plate has plural patterns of said shaft-receiving apertures, said bull gear means comprising plural, concentric sun gears of differing dimensions and respectively meshing with sAid planetary gear upon selected shaft insertion of said shafts in a selected pattern of said
 2. Game board apparatus including, in combination, a horizontal support member having a central, fixed, upstanding post, a revolvable support plate horizontally disposed above said support member and centrally journaled about said post, said support plate having a predetermined pattern of shaft-receiving apertures, horizontal bull gear means centrally keyingly affixed to said upstanding post above said support plate, plural playing boards having upper, checkered playing surfaces and fixed depending shafts respectively supportingly journaled solely in said apertures and respective, horizontal, planetary gears centrally fixed to and keyed with said shafts and meshing with said bull gear means, said playing boards thereby being revolvable with respective ones of said planetary gears as said support plate carrying said planetary gear shafts is rotated about said post, and wherein said shaft receiving apertures comprise a triangular pattern and also a square pattern of apertures of a three-aperture pattern and a four-aperture pattern set, respectively, said game boards used being in number equivalent to the number of apertures in a selected one of said patterns, said bull gear means comprising plural bull gears of differing diameters, said plural playing boards having their shafts disposed in the apertures of a selected one of said patterns and being dimensioned such that their planetary gears mesh with a corresponding, selected one of said bull gears.
 3. Game board apparatus including, in combination, a horizontal support member having a central, fixed, upstanding post, a revolvable support plate horizontally disposed above said support member and centrally journaled about said post, said support plate having a pre-determined pattern of shaft-receiving apertures, horizontal bull gear means centrally keyingly affixed to said upstanding post above said support plate, plural playing boards having fixed depending shafts respectively disposed in said apertures and respective, horizontal, planetary gears centrally fixed to and keyed with said shafts and meshing with said bull gear means, said playing boards thereby being revolvable with respective ones of said planetary gears as said support plate carrying said planetary gear shafts is rotated about said post, and wherein said bull gear means comprises a small upper sun gear and a larger lower sun gear, said shaftreceiving apertures being positioned such that said planetary gears will mesh with a selected one of said sun gears.
 4. Game board apparatus including, in combination, a horizontal support member having a central, fixed upstanding post, a revolvable support plate horizontally disposed above said support member and centrally journaled about said post, said support plate having a predetermined pattern of shaft-receiving apertures, horizontal bull gear means centrally keying affixed to said upstanding post above said support plate, plural playing boards having upper, checkered playing surfaces and fixed depending shafts respectively supportingly journaled solely in said apertures and respective, horizontal, planetary gears centrally fixed to and keyed with said shafts and meshing with said bull gear means, said playing boards thereby being revolvable with respective ones of said planetary gears as said support plate carrying said planetary gear shafts is rotated about said post, and wherein said support plate includes two sets of shaft-receiving apertures, each of said sets including bearing risers annularly disposed about said apertures and of respective differing heights, said bull gear means comprising a pair of coaxial bull gears of differing diameter, said playing table shafts being disposed in a selected set of said shaft-receiving apertures in a manner such that said planetary gears mesh with a corresponding one of said bull gears. 